Foldable flip-flop

ABSTRACT

A foldable flip-flop thong constituted of three adjacently spaced apart stiff plastic panels positioned lengthwise of the thong and sandwiched between elastomeric top and bottom plies to form an axis at the sites of spaces between the plastic panel so that partaking of pivotal traverses thereat results in a non-use folded condition of ⅓ the dimension of the thong.

The present invention relates generally to improvements for a pocketsized footwear article of manufacture and more particularly toimprovements whereby said footwear article of manufacture is placed in afolded condition following pivotal traverses so as to assume a pocketsized ⅓ dimension all as will be better understood as the descriptionproceeds.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Search

In the prior art is patent application publication US 2008/0098616 ofLeedy for “Roll Up Thong” made up of layers of thin flexible materialhaving the ability to be rolled up for non-use storage. In the rolled upcondition there is the tendency to unroll, and the diameter of the rollis not of a desirable minimal size.

In prior art patent application US 2007/0204483 of Kirsch et al. for“Flexible Shoe and Container” in the specific embodiment of a thong orflip-flop, there is specific reference to being folded as well asrolled, but to be rolled the thong is also of thin flexible material, itthus lacks the ability to withstand the abuse of wear on walkingsurfaces such as concrete sidewalks and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome theforegoing and other noted shortcomings of the prior art.

More particularly, it is an object to provide three adjacently spacedapart stiff plastic constituted panels to withstand the abuse of wearpositioned lengthwise of the thong, and a top and a bottom elastomericply utilized to sandwich the plastic panels therebetween, and at thebridging of each spacing site between the plastic panels, therefunctionally exists an axis for pivotal traverses. Partaking of thepivotal traverses results in a non-use folded condition of ⅓ thedimension of the thong.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The description of the invention which follows, together with theaccompanying drawing should not be construed as limiting the inventionto the example shown and described, because those skilled in the art towhich this invention appertains will be able to devise other formsthereof.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a foldable flip-flop according to thepresent invention preparatory to its folding mode;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the flip-flop illustrating theconstruction thereof;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a similar partial cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the flip-flop in its initial foldingmode;

FIG. 6 is-a perspective view of the flip-flop in its final folding mode;and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the flip-flop in circumstances using toadvantage the folding mode thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Shown in the drawings is a footwear article of manufacture, generallydesignated 10, popularly known as a flip-flop (as designated inRANDOMHOUSE WEBSTER'S College Dictionary at page 509 right column) whichis sized to fit in a female's 12 pocket 14 or pocketbook when not inwearing use on her feet 16.

To achieve this desirable downsizing, flip-flop 10 is constructed ofthree stiff plastic constituted panels, namely a toe panel 18, an archor medial panel 20 and a heel panel 22, thus measuring from toe to heela dimension 24 correlated to average sizes of the feet 16 of the femaleuser 12. The plastic construction material of each of the panels 18, 20and 22 is selected based on a stiffness of an extent necessary towithstand the “wear and tear” of ordinary use, but without, however,preventing the noted downsizing because of the folding mode embodied inthe flip-flop construction.

More particularly, in the flat the toe panel 18 is located adjacent themiddle panel 20 so that toe panel edge 26 and front middle panel edge 28bound a first clearance 30 therebetween and located adjacent middlepanel 20 is heel panel 22 so that rear middle panel edge 32 bounds asecond clearance 34 therebetween with heel panel edge 36.

As noted by the reference arrows, the dimension 38 of toe panel 18 is afraction of and no greater than ⅓ the toe to heel dimension 24, andlikewise of the dimension 40 of middle panel 20 and the dimension 42 ofheel panel 22, so that folding toe panel 18 as noted by arrow 44 uponthe middle panel 20 and then folding heel panel 22 as noted by the arrow46 upon the bottom 48 of the toe panel 18 reduces the size of the foldedcondition of the flip-flop 10 to a width size dimension 50 of thetrouser rear pocket 14 as best noted in FIG. 7 by the position-insertingdot-dash arrows 52.

Continuing with the description of the folding mode, two identicalshaped upper ply 54 and lower ply 56 arc adhesively secured, usingadhesive coats 58, on opposite sides of the toe panel 18, middle panel20 and heel panel 22 and over the first and second clearances 30 and 34,so that the flexibility of the elastomeric construction material of theplies 54 and 56 is used to advantage to permit the pivotal traverses 44and 46 of the axis 60 and 62 of the clearances 30 and 34.

From the foregoing it should be readily understood that preparatory tonon-use the downsizing of the flip-flop 10 is sized to fit in the pocket14 and preparatory to wearing use it is readily unfolded to the toe toheel dimension 24 to be held by thongs 64 attached, as at attachmentsites 66 to the user's feet 16.

While the pocket sized footwear article/flip-flop herein shown anddisclosed in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects andproviding the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understoodthat it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment ofthe invention and that no limitations are intended to the detail ofconstruction or design herein shown other than as defined in theappended claims.

1. A pocket sized footwear article of manufacture comprising: A. Threestiff plastic constituted panels each ⅓ of the length of a footweararticle of manufacture operatively positioned in planar relation with afront panel and a rear panel adjacent a middle panel in interposedposition therebetween delimiting nominal first and second clearancesbetween confronting edges between said front panel and said rear panel;B. Two identical plies of elastomeric construction material sized so asto extend from toe to heel of said footwear article of manufacture andon opposite sides of said three stiff plastic constituted panels andover said first and second clearances each respectively serving as anaxis for a pivotal traverse; C. Adhesive coats for attaching said twoelastomeric plies to said three plastic constituted panels; and D.Positions of movement of said front and said rear panels upon saidmiddle panel as permitted by pivotal traverses about said first andsecond clearances-established axis for pivotal traverse; whereby saidfootwear article of manufacture in said folded condition following saidpivotal traverses assumes said pocket sized ⅓ dimension.